Manhattan T2-R 500 GB Freeview HD Recorder - Black

Product Information

After discussion with Arqiva (who manage the UK’s broadcast infrastructure), we implemented improved behaviour on our latest T3-R model. This behaviour has now replaced the Automatic Service Update on the T2-R: One thing to remember about Freeview recordings, is that the recording is as good as your reception. So if the reception goes bad – for example if you move your aerial, or during a bad thunderstorm – you’ll find out later that you have a stuttering, garbled recording. If you connect the device to the internet, you’ll also get a few additional Freeview features and channels – the BBC’s red-button for example, or the “Box Nation” pay-tv channel. In addition to Smart Retune, Full Retune can now be chosen from the Tuning section of Settings. The Full Retune completely removes the existing channel database and is necessary when the T2-R is moved to a new region (e.g. when moving home).

The system can now be restarted in the System Settings menu and by pressing: Red - 0 - Red - Standby. An issue that could make it impossible to set series recordings for some programmes. This happened when the T2•R received two regional variations of the same channel, e.g. BBC One SE at 1 and BBC One LON at 800. This did not affect channels with +1 (e.g. ITV & ITV+1) or HD alternatives (e.g. ITV & ITV HD), only regional variations.Fixed an issue whereby the volume could not be adjusted on non-HD channels when the ‘Audio Output’ in Picture & Sound Settings was set to ‘Surround’. I was pleasantly surprised by the T2-R’s performance. While it’s not really a cheap Freeview box, it’s still cheaper than some of the competing boxes, without passing on important functionality.

When retune events were signalled by the broadcasters you could be prompted to retune more frequently than necessary. Finding what to watch and record on over 70 channels is effortless with the beautiful 8-day TV Guide. Handy, because Freeview has 95% of the nation's favourite TV to enjoy! Connect to a rooftop aerial to enjoy Freeview content, and by Ethernet cable for on demand services. High quality HDMI connection gives a high definition picture transfer, and enjoy Dolby Digital Plus sound. It also features an optical port for high quality sound output. A 1.2m HDMI cable is included in the box. When you turn your T2•R on for the first time after it has updated, a message will be displayed confirming the update has taken place successfully Automatic trash removal now takes place in Standby. Previously this would take place after boot-up and could slow the system down if there was a lot to remove.

The specification here is basic but well implemented, and Manhattan's new styling is a nice improvement on its boxy designs of old. And the T2-R nicely whets the appetite for the company's incoming T3-R, which adds streaming bells and whistles. An issue that could stop programmes being set to record that are on now on a service that does not broadcast 24/7 (e.g. BBC FOUR). The recording could only be scheduled after changing to a service on the same multiplex. At this price you don't get luxuries like app control; use the electronic programme guide (EPG) to select channels for viewing or recording instead. This can also 'remind' you when a programme is due to start and supports series-linking. If there's a schedule clash, you're invited to set recordings on the offending channel individually as

Record 2 programmes at once. Need to record more? The T2-R will suggest alternative broadcasts to make it workThough this was thought fixed in 1.03, a further issue was discovered whereby seemingly randomly, channels or scheduled recordings could be removed during the Automatic Service Update in standby. This could happen in locations receiving signals from multiple transmitters with signal variations. Your T2•R will update automatically overnight whilst in standby, as long as you haven't disabled automatic updates in the System Settings menu The device doesn’t have to be on to record – as long as it’s connected, and on standby, it’ll record everything you set it to, at the right time. With dual tuners, it can record up to two simultaneous programmes on two different channels. If you try to record a program on a THIRD channel, the T2-R’s smart recording function will try to find a different time when that programme is on – and record it then.

Since the T2-R doesn’t support streaming apps, you might wonder what the Ethernet and USB ports are for. For some reason, the “Get Started” manual ignores these ports, but an added leaflet explains that they’re used to update the box’ software. There used to be an over-the-air Freeview updating service called “The Engineering Channel”, but it was shut down this year – so having another way to update the T2-R software is good.

When a partial or failed series recording is re-recorded by the T2•R, the original recording will be deleted, unless it is in the process of being viewed.